Wales completed a WXV double over Japan with a comfortable 29-5 victory in Kumagaya City on October 31, ending their Global Series campaign on a high note. The five-try win capped a remarkable turnaround for Sean Lynn’s side.
Wales players celebrate the WXV Global Series win (Credits: BBC Sport)
Wing Nel Metcalfe and Japan hooker Moe Nagaoka traded early tries before hooker Kelsey Jones and wing Amy Williams extended Wales’ first-half lead. Prop Sisilia Tuipulotu crossed after the break before Williams added her second in a rare move from the backs.
Wales 29-5 Japan: dominant maul seals the WXV double
Wales, who had ground out a 17-0 win in the opening Test, struck first after Japan’s loose goalline drop-out, with co-captain Alex Callender thundering deep into the 22 before Metcalfe finished in the corner, converted by fly-half Lleucu George.
Japan hit back through Nagaoka’s maul try, but Wales regrouped. George’s kick caused chaos, Lisa Neumann won the turnover, and Jones touched down from the dominant lineout maul for her second try in as many games. Seren Lockwood then found Williams in space on the wing to stretch the lead.
Japan’s Jennifer Nduka was yellow-carded for repeated infringements early in the second half, paving the way for the bonus-point score as Tuipulotu proved unstoppable from a metre out. Williams then finished a sweeping move — fed by Callender’s huge pass and Neumann’s assist — for her second of the evening.
Late drama as Wales finish with 13 players
The closing stages brought chaos: replacements Keira Bevan and Hannah Dallavalle were both yellow-carded, reducing Wales to 13 players, with Dallavalle dismissed for a blatant hair pull on her competition debut. Japan threw everything at the depleted defence but could not take advantage of the numbers, and Callender came up with the crucial late turnover.
Wales finish the Global Series with three wins, their only defeat coming against the USA — a complete transformation for a side that had gone nine Tests without a win before beating South Africa. The Sakura Fifteen, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first victory since May and their first under head coach Toshizumi Kitagawa.
Also Read: Wales Make Five Changes for Second WXV Test Against Japan as Lynn Rewards Bench Stars; Meg Jones Challenges Red Roses to Keep Rivals Guessing After USA Win
Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
